25 Best Hot Cocktails to Keep You Warm This Winter

When the nights darken, and winter bites, hot cocktails are just the thing to banish the blues.

These deliciously irresistible Christmas drinks will warm you up from the inside out.

And with over 20 drinks to choose from, you’re bound to find something tasty to match your mood.

If you’re feeling decadent, try a dessert-like creation – Irish coffee, buttered bourbon, or Mezcal hot chocolate.

Or stick to the classics with mulled wine or a cozy eggnog latte.

So, get all warm and cozy and check out these hot cocktail recipes this winter!

Hot Cocktails & Drink Recipes

1. Irish Coffee

I don’t generally recommend booze for breakfast, but this classic Irish coffee is just the thing on snowy mornings.

With a boost from coffee and a kick of Irish whiskey with cream, it’s hard to resist. It’s perfect for those snowed-in lazy mornings!

Ingredients: Irish whiskey, coffee, granulated sugar, brown sugar, whipped cream, nutmeg

2. Kahlua Cocoa

A hint of Kahlua turns this rich hot chocolate into something special, giving it a touch of smoky flavor.

Topped with marshmallows and drizzled with caramel syrup, this drink is not for the faint-hearted. 

It’s filling, it’s creamy, it’s intensely sweet, and it’ll give you a bit of a buzz.

Ingredients: milk, sugar, cocoa powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, Kahlúa coffee liqueur

3. Mulled Wine

The Romans gave us many things – roads, the Vatican, breathtaking architecture, and mulled wine.

The pairing of wine, spices, and citrus fruits will warm you from the inside out.

It’s the perfect cocktail for the New Year. Easy, quick, and very tasty, it’s the ultimate festive party starter. Thank you, Rome.

Ingredients: oranges, red wine, brandy, maple syrup, cinnamon, star anise, cloves

4. Pimm’s Winter Cup

Imaginative and irresistible, I love this wintery twist on the British summer-time favorite, Pimms.

In this recipe, apple juice is slowly simmered with caramel, orange, and cinnamon until warm and fragrant.

Once the flavors have beautifully mingled, you’ll remove it from the heat and add a dash of Pimms. 

Ingredients: apple juice, caramel candies, orange, cinnamon, Pimm’s

5. Spiced Hot Buttered Rum

Butter in a cocktail sounds strange, I know. When added to rum and all those warming spices, it’s heaven in a glass. 

Brown sugar and vanilla extract deliver holiday pie flavors, while dark rum adds so much flavor. 

This cocktail is best on those cold winter days. 

Ingredients: butter, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, sea salt, dark rum

6. Mezcal Hot Chocolate

Mezcal hot chocolate is the perfect blend of childhood favorites with a spicy, boozy kick.

It combines Soma Drinking Chocolate (which is a little spicy), with warming notes from cinnamon. Then, add in a little Mezcal. 

Think of it as a fusion between hot chocolate and a margarita.

Ingredients: Soma Drinking Chocolate, milk, mezcal, cinnamon stick, marshmallows

7. Cozy Eggnog Latte

This cozy eggnog latte is perfect for those snowed-in mornings. It combines eggnog with coffee and plenty of cream. 

It’s like a warm hug in a glass.

While this kid-friendly cocktail is booze-free, you can spice things up with a little spiked eggnog!

Ingredients: almond milk, eggnog, coffee, vanilla extract, coconut sugar or maple syrup, cinnamon

8. Winter Spiced Apple Cocktail with Rum

This spicy sip might look simple, but it’s surprisingly flavorful and comes with a kick.

You’ll mix apple juice, cinnamon, cloves, and lemon peel for a fruity taste with spicy citrus notes. 

Oh, and don’t forget the booze! Once the juice is warm, add just enough rum to keep out the cold, and enjoy.

Ingredients: apple juice, cinnamon stick, cloves, lemon, apple, dark rum

9. Bourbon Spiked Hot Chocolate

Bourbon in rich, dark hot chocolate is a revelation. It adds an intense smoky undertone that highlights the chocolate. 

This is the perfect drink for Halloween festivities, Thanksgiving feasts, Christmas Eve nightcaps, and New Year’s revels.

Plan enough parties and you’ll be drinking it ‘til spring!

Ingredients: cocoa powder, sugar, salt, water, milk, vanilla, bourbon, mini marshmallows

10. Hot Apple Pie Cocktail

Cozy and comforting, this is like apple pie in a glass.

It’s made with Calvados, a French liqueur made from apples or pears. This hot alcoholic drink mixes apple juice, brown sugar, and spices.

If you want more of a kick, stir in some apple cider, too!

Ingredients: apple cider, brandy, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, whipped cream

11. Hot Buttered Bourbon

The ingredients in this drink may seem strange, but they work! Brown sugar and butter are the perfect pairing with bourbon. 

Seriously, this is one boozy cocktail that will warm you from the inside out. 

With a kiss of spice from cinnamon and nutmeg, it’s pure perfection.

Ingredients: butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, bourbon.

12. Maple Spiced Mulled Cider

Warm cocktails are often heavy on the spice, but this option is delightfully fruity!

Pairing maple syrup and lightly spiked mulled cider strikes that perfect balance of fruity, sweet, and spiced. 

Want even more booze? Try adding a shot (or two) of spiced rum.

Ingredients: alcoholic cider, orange, cinnamon sticks, cloves, vanilla essence, maple syrup, star anise

13. Hot Gin Punch

This hot gin punch has it all. It’s a little fruity, spicy, sweet, and goes down a little too easily. 

Adding both pineapple and orange juice makes this cocktail fruit-forward with a backdrop of calm, warming spices. 

The colors look so pretty in a glass, and even better garnished with fresh fruit.

Ingredients: gin, port wine, jaggery, lemon, orange juice, pineapple juice, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, black peppercorns

14. Wassail

For those not in the know, wassail is an old English drink, served to celebrate the harvest.

It’s a tasty blend of apple cider and spices, spiked with bourbon. If you love fruity drinks with a hint of warming spices, it’s a must-try.

Ingredients: apple cider, ginger, lemon, cinnamon stick, star anise, vanilla bean, bourbon

15. Hot Toddy

I always bust out the whiskey for hot toddies when I’m a little under the weather. It can make the common cold much more bearable! 

The warming notes of whiskey, lemon, and honey taste like slipping into a warm bath. 

It’s the perfect soothing cocktail after a day of shoveling the driveway!

Ingredients: whiskey, hot water, honey, lemon, cinnamon stick

16. Red Wine Hot Chocolate

Mulled wine meets hot chocolate in this recipe. And they live happily ever after.

So will you, once you get a taste of this unique combination. Sweet, tart, spicy, and fruity, it’s a must-try for your next Christmas party. 

Ingredients: milk, red wine, chocolate chips, cocoa powder, cinnamon stick, salt

17. Tequila Chai Hot Toddy

Hot toddies are the go-to cold remedy, but this recipe turns them from medicinal to magical.

Laced with tequila, orange juice, and chai tea, this is a cocktail to keep off the chill and make things extra merry.

Ingredients: water, chai tea bag, tequila, orange juice, honey

18. Drunken Pumpkin Spice Latte

It seems to be a life rule that the minute the leaves turn, pumpkin lattes start appearing. 

If you’re tired of your usual, spike it up with some pumpkin pie liquor and have yourself a drunken pumpkin party.

Because nothing says fall like boozy squash-based drinks!

Ingredients: brewed coffee, pumpkin pie liqueur, pumpkin pie spice, corn syrup, orange sanding sugar, whipped cream

19. Tom & Jerry Cocktail

The Tom & Jerry is a sugar cookie in cocktail form. 

Seriously, it tastes exactly like a warm, fresh-out-of-the-oven cookie. Do I need to go on?

The secret ingredient is the Tom and Jerry batter. You can pick it up on Amazon, or just make your own!

Ingredients: Tom & Jerry Drink batter, rum, hot ilk, nutmeg

20. Mulled Pear Cider

The pairing of warm spices, oranges, and pears is a match made in heaven. 

It’s the perfect cocktail to sip by a warm fire and watch the leaves (or snow) pile up outside.

With a boozy and fruity kick from brandy, it’s incredibly smooth and fragrant.

Ingredients: pear juice, orange slice, cloves, cinnamon, star anise, brandy

21. Kahlua Coffee

There are days when you want dessert, and there are days when you’d rather skip it and have a drink instead.

Get the best of both worlds with this post-supper sip. Made with coffee, Kahlua, and cream, it’ll finish your night with a warming, delicious mug.

It’s good for digestion and the soul!

Ingredients: coffee, Kahlua, heavy cream

22. Warm Spiced Cranberry Cocktail

Just looking at this brightly festive cocktail gets me in the mood for the holidays.

It’s a beautiful blend of cranberry juice, orange juice, spices, fresh ginger, honey, and rum. Pretty to look at, and pretty tasty too!

Ingredients: cranberry juice, orange juice, cinnamon stick, cloves, ginger, honey, rum

23. Warm Pomegranate Punch

Festive punch is a crowd-pleasing holiday drink when everyone’s in the mood to celebrate.

Help things along with a pitcher full of this fruity concoction, made with pomegranate juice, red wine, and rum.

Ingredients: pomegranate juice, red wine, sugar, cinnamon stick, star anise, rum

24. Maple Ginger Hot Toddy

Add some fall-inspired flavor to your next hot toddy with this maple-laced version.

It’s sweet and spicy, with a kick of fresh ginger and treacly maple undertones.

Try it before bed on a frosty night, and you’ll be peacefully slumbering in no time!

Ingredients: ginger, cinnamon stick, star anise, spiced tea bag, scotch, maple syrup, lemon juice

25. Gingerbread Winter Warm Up

Here’s another creamy cocktail that tastes just like a Christmas cookie. 

The secret ingredient in this warming cocktail is the infusion of Kerrygold Irish Cream and gingerbread syrup. 

Toss in some Irish whiskey, and serve with a dusting of cinnamon and whipped cream. Delicious!

Ingredients: water, granulated sugar, ground ginger, vanilla extract, cinnamon, allspice